My final lecture in my TCU communication class this week spoke to the human longing for "story" as one of the primary means of persuasion and communication. First, we spoke of the use of story through all of history's communication, and the return to story that's currently occurring in our post-literate society. Then we introduced the idea that story resonates because it reflects a much larger story, of which we see echoes in movies, literature, history, and our own lives. That story has four part: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Today we ask, "why end the semester this way?":Why End This Semester on this Topic?
For two reasons. First [remember, this is a communications class, and I'm speaking of story as a means of persuasion], to truly connect with people, no matter what your topic is; no matter the need you're addressing; the audience you're speaking to; or any of the other variables of your speech, if you can speak into this story - the movement of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration - you'll find a point of connection that every human shares. If your topic can offer redemption to your audience's brokenness; it if can speak on some level to our hope of restoration; if it can move us from our current state, more toward fullness, your audience will respond. You make a connection. It enhances your speech, builds trust, and brings your audience in. We all love this story.
The second reason we end our semester this way might be more personal; it is for me. My hope is that you'll realize that each of these little glimpses; these little, repeating, continual versions of this story we see everywhere, are just echoes of the same story, but a richer, fuller, and greater version.
I submit that this story is the arc of history: this is what God is doing in the world, and this is why we love this story; long to see versions of it in movies, books, and our lives. We were created (we know that, because we're here!). Then evil, distrust, disobedience, and a fall entered the world and entered our lives as well, and we find ourselves broken, in so many ways (again, think of strained relationships, physical pain, emotional hurt, or your tears). This is where we find ourselves in the story. But if I'm right, then in the greater version of this story, there's a promise of restoration: a time at the end of history when all things will be made right again; when every bit of this brokenness we feel will be gone. And that's why we each feel this longing; this yearning; this hope - on some level, we know it can happen!
But to see this restoration, there needs to be a redemption: because of our brokenness, we can't get to act four on our own; we don't have the ability. The very idea of redemption is "being bought." That which is redeemed is passive in the process; we don't have the ability to do it ourselves. Something outside has to come in an do the redeeming. In this greater story of history, I'm submitting to you that God does this work for us: paid the price and covers our brokenness; brings us from Fall to Redemption because we can't do it ourselves. And he does that through the life, death, and resurrection of God the Son, Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate in the coming weeks.
A Christmas Break Consideration
You may not believe this story. And that's completely fine with me. I'm just submitting it to you as a reason why story connects with each of us. And I would ask that over the break, you might take a moment and think about it: Why is it that you connect with stories of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration? Why in your brokenness do you have a reason to yearn - or hope - for something better? Why is it that in every culture, in all time, every human has resonated with that pattern?
Because until we grasp this greater story, we don't fully understand the full meaning of life or the full reason why story connects so well with our audiences. That's all I've got today; you're dismissed.
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